Embassy of the United States

About the Embassy

Administrative Section
Robert E. Davis, Minister-Counselor

The Embassy's Administrative Section provides all logistical and resource support for the Mission. The section is headed by the Minister-Counselor of Embassy for Administrative Affairs, whose office is located on the chancery's fourth floor. The section is made up of the Community Liaison Office, the Financial Management Center, the General Services Office, the Health Unit, the Human Resources Office and the Information Management Office.

• Community Liaison Office (CLO)
  Elaine Saxe
  CLO provides information and support for newcomers prior to and after their arrival at post, helping to ease the transition to Seoul. The office provides orientation, organizes community events, manages the summer hire program, maintains liaison with local schools, assists spouses seeking employment, provides guidance on sponsoring household staff, serves as a resource for local information and publishes the post newsletter, "The Chosun Word". Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• Financial Management Center (FMC)
  Sau Ching Yip
  FMC processes travel and other vouchers, makes allowance payments, provides check cashing and currency exchange services and various payroll services. Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• General Services Office (GSO)
  Daniel F. Romano
  GSO is responsible for all aspects of housing, furnishings, supplies, vehicle registration and plates, maintenance of residential and office spaces, motor pool support, purchasing/contracting, shipping and customs, VIP visit logistics as well as other services. Yongsan GSO Compound
  
  
• Health Unit (HU)
  Cathy Kim 
  The health unit provides basic medical care and refers those needing additional care or specialized services to various medical and dental professionals both on the military base and around Seoul. Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• Human Resources Office (HRO)
  Steven C. Lemelin
  HR provides benefits processing (TSP, FEGLI, FEHB), bidding assistance, career and other counseling, assistance with pay and other HR-related problems, processing of work permits for spouses, assistance with Korean visas, official diplomatic registration, travel orders, processing of driver's license, Employee Evaluation Reports and awards, recruiting, hiring and support of FSN employees, and other services. Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• Information Management Office (IMO)
  Miyuki V, Wade
  Classified and unclassified communications and automated data processing services, telephone and internet services, mail and pouch services, and radio network services. Coordinates systems throughout the Mission and is responsible for coordinating Information Systems procurement. Chancery, 4th and 7th floors

Agricultural Affairs Office (AAO)
Lloyd S. Harbert, Minister-Counselor

The Agricultural Affairs Office (AAO) of the American Embassy in Seoul represents the interests of American agriculture and agribusiness in the Republic of Korea.  Activities of the office include market research and analysis, market development, and market access.  AAO helps identify—and works to reduce—foreign trade barriers and other practices and policies that hinder U.S. agricultural exports.


Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Scott Saxe, Area Director
APHIS webpage: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

The mission of APHIS overseas is to provide internationally-based animal and plant health expertise that enhances USDA's capacity to safeguard American agriculture and promote agricultural trade.


Agricultural Trade Office (ATO)
Michael J. Fay
http://www.atoseoul.com/

The U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO)in Seoul is staffed by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary role of the ATO is to expand and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural, fishery, and forestry exports. It serves as the primary liaison between U.S. agricultural suppliers and Korean buyers. The ATO organizes trade shows, trade missions and other promotional events for the retail, hotel and restaurant industries. It provides trade servicing, market and product information.

Commercial Section
John Fogarasi
http://www.buyusa.gov/korea/en/

The U.S. Commercial Service Korea office (CS Korea) is part of the worldwide network of U.S. Department of Commerce offices located in more than 120 cities in 80 countries, and in over 100 locations in the United States. Our mission is to support the commercial interests of the United States and to help U.S. companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, increase sales and market share in Korea.

Consular Section
Cynthia C. Sharpe, Consul General

The Consular Section is composed of three branches, described below:

• American Citizen Services (ACS):
  ACS is part of the Embassy's consular section. We provide assistance to American citizens in Korea, including passport services, notarials, registration, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, documentation for marriage, voting in U.S. elections, various federal benefits and more. In addition, ACS assists U.S. citizens in emergency situations, including arrests, deaths and crisis situations. Effective March 29, 2006, the American Citizen Services unit has expanded its hours to include Wednesday mornings.  ACS is open to the public on Monday through Friday from 9:00-11:30 a.m., and on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1:30-3:30 p.m.  We are closed on Wednesday afternoons and on both U.S. and Korean holidays.
  
  EXPANDED HOURS:  Effective March 29, 2006, the American Citizen Services unit is expanding the hours it is open to the public to include Wednesday mornings. 
  
  ACS is open to the public:
  9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday  (M, T, W, Th, F)
  1:30 -  3:30  p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday  (M, T, Th, F) 
  
  In the event of an emergency, please call the Embassy switchboard at 82-2-397-4114. 
  
  
• Immigrant Visa Branch (IV)
  IV information and appointment scheduling  
  Applicants are seen by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 12:00.
  Please see the IV information on this web site for further information on application requirements and procedures.
  
  
• Non-Immigrant Visa Branch (NIV) 
  NIV information and appointment scheduling online:  www.us-visaservices.com. 
  NIV information and appointment scheduling by telephone:  003-08-131-420 (within Korea) or 866-222-1107 (within the U.S.). 
  NIV is open to the general public from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only, Monday through Friday, except Wednesday afternoon.
  Please see the NIV information on this web site for a list of visa classifications based on an applicant’s primary purpose of travel to the U.S., application procedures and downloadable forms.
  

Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-ICE)
KyungYul Steven Kim (ICE Attaché)

ICE is a Federal Law Enforcement Agency and the main investigative arm for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  The primary function of the office is for Special Agents and Criminal Investigators to conduct complex investigations with Korean Authorities relating to major criminal offenses between Korea and the U.S. These violations include anti-terrorism, counter-proliferation investigations, smuggling of contraband, drug interdiction, human smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering activities, financial crimes, bulk cash smuggling, intellectual property rights violations, copyright and trademark violations, illegal exportation of arms & weapons of mass destruction, technology transfer, cyber crimes, child sexual exploitation, visa fraud and customs related fraud.

Web site: www.ice.gov.

Defense Attache Office
Kip A. Mccormick

The Defense Attache Office is located on the seventh floor of the American Embassy. The office is currently comprised of three principal service attaches, two assistant service attaches, one operations coordinator, three operations NCO's, one U.S. Army enlisted translator, one U.S. civilian part-time temporary position, and two FSN positions. Our principal functions are to advise the Ambassador on military and political-military matters, represent senior Department of Defense officials and military service chiefs to appropriate equivalent officials in Korea.


Drug Enforcement Administration
Edward M. Fiocchi

DEA's primary mission in Seoul is to work cooperatively with other U.S. foreign and Republic of Korea (ROK) law enforcement officials in order to investigate narcotics trafficking and other related activity that directly impacts the United States. This investigative activity includes the identification of criminal organizations responsible for the trafficking of drugs, determination of international smuggling routes and methods being utilized (i.e., courier, shipments, express mail, etc.). The identification of locations where raw drug related products are produced such as poppy and marijuana fields. The identification of laboratories where final illicit drug products are produced such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. Investigating the origination and destination of chemical shipments necessary for the final production of illicit drug products; and identifying methods utilized by drug traffickers to conceal or launder their illegal profits.

Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy
Gregory S. Burton, Minister-Counselor

The Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy works with the U.S. and other sections, particularly the Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service, on issues relating to bilateral trade. The Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy has primary responsibility for the financial sector, civil aviation, and fisheries issues, as well as important multilateral issues such as Korea's relations with the OECD, APEC, and the WTO. The section's reporting and analysis focuses on the internal economy, bilateral trade and finance issues, the North Korean economy, and the Republic of Korea's relations with the North.

Open Source Center(OSC)
Kristen B. Patel
The Open Source Center (OSC) is a government agency that collects, translates, and analyzes information selected from foreign public media sources, for use by U.S. government and military analysts and policy makers. OSC concerns itself with WHAT the foreign public media says and HOW they say it. 

Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS-CIS)
Kenneth J. Sherman

The DHS-CIS is an agency of the U.S. Justice Department tasked with overall administration and enforcement of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This office services the many military and civilian Americans and lawful alien U.S. residents who are in Korea and Japan and who wish to petition (sponsor) family members to immigrate to the U.S. INS works very closely with the Consular Section in reviewing cases for visa issuance. They also conduct local investigations of cases relating to applications which have been filed in the U.S. and enforcement activities related to INA, including liaison with Korean Immigration officials at Kimpo International Airport and beyond to identify and deter organized smuggling organizations and vendors of fraudulent/counterfeit travel documents.

Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group (JUSMAG-K)
Col. Kevin W. Madden, U.S. Army, Chief

JUSMAG-K supports the Republic of Korea in the modernization and improved sustainability of its armed forces. To accomplish this, JUSMAG-K works wit the ROK Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the Korean defense community to support the sale and sustainment of U.S. equipment, services, supplies and training to the ROK. There are 30 U.S. military, three U.S. civilian and 16 Korean national personnel assigned. JUSMAG-K has six directorates: Army Programs, Navy/Marine Corps Programs, Air Force Programs, Defense Cooperation in Armaments Programs, MND Liaison, and Support. Of key interest to U.S. companies is the MND liaison office, which has extensive contacts with procurement officials in the MND.

Political Section
James L. Wayman, Minister-Counselor

The political section is responsible for the conduct of the security, defense and alliance aspects of U.S.-Korean bilateral relations. The section's staff monitors domestic political developments and serves as the Embassy's primary contacts with the National Assembly, political parties and provincial governments. They also monitor developments in North Korea and North Korean relations with other countries.

Public Affairs (PA)
Patrick J. Linehan, Minister-Counselor

The Public Affairs (PA) section is the press, cultural and education section of the Embassy. PA is responsible for the Embassy's media relations and for a variety of cultural, information and exchange programs. They handle press inquiries, requests for interviews, and press releases and other Embassy statements. The Cultural Affairs office sponsors speakers, seminars and exchanges. The Regional Program Office (RPO) promotes mutual understanding in the areas of Korea outside the capital. The RPO staff engages opinion leaders in academia, media, politics, and the arts, as well as the general public, by organizing lectures, seminars, press events, and artistic performances. The Information Resource Center (IRC) is the U.S. Embassy's reference and research service. IRC provides specialized, substantive, and accurate information about the United States to Korean institutions and professionals. Materials in the IRC site cover almost all subjects about the United States, its policies, society, and culture. The IRC is open to the public from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Regional Security Office
Gregary J. Levin

The Regional Security Office (RSO) is a component of the Department of State tasked with the overall security of people, property and information for the American Embassy. The Security team at the Embassy Seoul is comprised of direct hire Special Agents/Regional Security Officers (RSO's), a Security Engineering Office, Office Management Specialist, Marine Security Guard (MSG) Detachment, Foreign Service National Investigators (FSNI) and Local Guards.

Seoul Regional Diplomatic Courier Hub (SRDCH)

The Seoul Diplomatic Courier Hub is made up of four traveling Diplomatic Couriers and one desk officer working in Seoul. Our mission consists of delivering classified material to 14 Regional Posts in the Far East. Our classified deliveries take us weekly to Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Washington & Bangkok. Other less frequent trips are made to Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenyang, & Guangzhou, China, along with Vladivostok, Russia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and all the consulates in Japan.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Office	Days	Hours
U.S. Embassy Seoul	Monday through Friday	8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

The American Embassy offices are closed on American and Korean holidays.

Last Updated: August 13, 2009